Holy Viaticum

"Is any among you sick? Let him call for the presbyters of

the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with

oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save

the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has

committed sins, he will be forgiven" (James 5:14-15).

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC):

1524  In addition to the Anointing of the Sick, the Church offers those

who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as viaticum. Communion

in the body and blood of Christ, received at this moment of "passing over" to the Father, has a particular significance and importance. It is the seed

of eternal life and the power of resurrection, according to the words of

the Lord: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and

I will raise him up at the last day." The sacrament of Christ once dead

and now risen, the Eucharist is here the sacrament of passing over from

death to life, from this world to the Father.

1525 Thus, just as the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist form a unity called "the sacraments of Christian initiation,"

so too it can be said that Penance, the Anointing of the Sick and the Eucharist as viaticum constitute at the end of Christian life "the

sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland" or the sacraments

that complete the earthly pilgrimage.

 

 

Continue reading about this beautiful Sacrament and gift of the Church

Call a priest when the need presents itself.

See Catechism of the Catholic Church - Sections 1499-1532 http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt2art5.shtml